One factor I am supremely happy with is how our program grew yearly, largely as a result of exhausting work of those people. We coached extra gamers in additional communities, donating extra tools within the course of (thanks partially to the assist we acquired from Solar Life Monetary). We obtained to find out how hockey adjustments lives for thus many individuals in Ladakh, in Shimla, in Delhi, and everywhere in the world. Our volunteer coaches lives had been modified by the experiences they’d, the impression they made and the relationships they constructed. Hockey in India actually is approaching a tipping level. New group rinks are being constructed yearly, indoor amenities are being deliberate, tools importation/distribution firms are being former and a lot of the gamers I’ve coached since 2009 have gotten the subsequent era of hockey leaders in India: coaches, officers, referees, and many others.
However one factor that has been clear for a very long time: this system must adapt. Issues had been and are going to alter.
Because the core group of myself, Alex and Antoine get into our superior years (none of us are 35 but), all of us must spend time specializing in our lives at dwelling, which have typically been sacrificed for the advantage of The Hockey Basis and the communities we assist.
For myself, I used to be married simply over a 12 months in the past and am settling in a brand new dwelling in a brand new metropolis (in a brand new nation). Alex is about to have his first baby. Antoine has simply moved in to a brand new dwelling and has an toddler to handle as properly. Briefly, all of us have private lives exterior of THF that require our consideration, and that is offering a fantastic alternative for The Hockey Basis to proceed to adapt because it grows.
Whereas we is not going to have 10 coaches scattered round India like we did in January-February of 2016, we can have two nice representatives of THF on the bottom for a couple of month, with a handful of oldsters becoming a member of them throughout that point.
- Alexis Daudelin (from Montreal), whom we met final season whereas within the Himalayas, will probably be returning to Ladakh for a 2nd time to teach
- Corey Adams (from Lengthy Island), whom was the hard-working editor that produced the “How Hockey Helps” video will probably be on the ice and behind the digital camera
We’ll share a bit extra about their plans and the group that will probably be becoming a member of them in a future submit (this one’s lengthy sufficient as it’s). Antoine and I are (and will probably be) managing the India program from North America, collaborating and planning with our companions in India to make sure that Alexis and Corey are properly sorted and set as much as succeed. They’ll after all donate hockey tools to in-need communities/packages, in addition to donate containers of books to completely different faculties round Ladakh, in collaboration with ILSC (once more, extra particulars in subsequent posts).
Past the real-life circumstances that require this adaptation on behalf of our devoted staff, it additionally permits us to develop a course of that permits The Hockey Basis to assist extra international locations concurrently, if we will handle packages remotely. This in flip may also help us maintain prices low, which permits extra packages to be funded. Fundraising is the hardest a part of what we do, and we’re making each effort to alleviate bills wherever attainable.
After all, nothing is free, and our programming nonetheless does have prices related to them to be able to maintain operating.
So, I am going to shut with a easy request to assist us be certain that Corey and Alexis have a clean journey.
For those who’re keen and capable of donate throughout this season of giving, please head to our donation web page. No quantity is simply too massive or small. Please assist us proceed altering lives through hockey…one puck at a time.
Warmest regards, completely happy holidays & completely happy new 12 months!
Adam Sherlip
Government Director & Founder
